Shoe stretcher



March 25, 1941. F N HALL El-AL 2,236,264'

SHOE STRETCHER Filed April 26, 1959 Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates generally to shoe stretchers, and more particularly to shoe stretchers which are adapted to stretch required areas of a shoe without distorting the whole shoe.

The present application is a continuation, in part, of the copending application of Floyd N. Hall, Serial No. 113,804, filed December 2, 1936.

An object of the present invention is to provide a shoe stretched of a construction adapted to lengthen the vamp of a shoe by stretching without bending the arch or unduly stretching the remainder of the upper.

Another object is to provide a shoe stretcher which includes a front section, a central section and a rear section, the front section of which is adapted to be moved forwardly from the central section when the stretcher is in a shoe to stretch the vamp of a shoe without distorting the remainder of the shoe.

Another object is to provide a shoe stretcher, the bottom contour of which is adapted to conform substantially to the upper contour of the inner sole of a shoe.

Another object is to provide a shoe stretcher including a front section, a central section, and a rear section, the'central section of which includes a bottom surface substantially of the conguration of the contour of the upper surface of the shank portion of an inner sole of a shoe.

Another object is to provide a shoe stretcher including a front section, a central section, and a rear section, the front section and therear section being adjustable relative to the central section.

Another object is to provide a shoe stretcher which includes a novel mechanism for moving one portion of the stretcher relative to another portion.

Another object is to provide a shoe stretcher which is simple in construction, which is economical to manufacture, and which is adapted to fulfill all of the objects and advantages sought therefor.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a shoe stretcher constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a central section through the shoe stretcher shown in Fig. 1, the handle being broken away for conservation of space, the front section and rear section being extended reiative to the central section;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the forward portion of the shoe stretcher shown in Fig. 1, the front section being extended relative to the central 5 section; 1

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by referencenumerals, Ill indicates generally a shoe stretcher embodying the teachings of the present invention. The shoe stretcher I0 comprises a front section II; a central section I2, and a rear 15 section I3. When the front section II, the central section I2, and the rear section I3 are in contiguous relationship (Fig. 1), the shoe stretcher I0 is of a configuration to conform substantially Ito `the inner contours. of a shoe.

' -The front section II includes an upper surface 20 I5 contoured to conform, to the toe portion of the upper of a shoe and a bottom surface I6 of substantially the same contour as the corresponding portion of the inner sole of a shoe. The central section I2 includes a bottom surface I'l con- 25 toured .to conform'to the shank and contiguous portions of the inner sole of a shoe, the upper surface `I 8being contoured to iit within the central portion ofthe upper of a shoe. rI'he rear section I3 includes a bottomsurface 20 adapted to conform `to the heel portion of the inner sole of a shoe, and an upper surface 2l contoured to conform to the heel portion of the upper of a shoe.

A mechanism or actuator, generally designated 35 23, is provided for moving the front section II relative to the central section I2. A chamber 25 `(Figs. 2 and 5) is located inthe forward portion of the central section I2, the chamber 25 including a cylindrical well 26 and a slot 2l'. The well 26 is threaded at its lower end and threadedly receives a threaded member 28 which hasa central depression 29. A collar 301s fixed ai; the inner end of the well 26. A shaft 3I extends through the collar 30 and has bearing support in 45 the depression 29 of the member 28 by means of a reduced extension 32, that portion 33 of the shaft 3| located within the well 26 being threaded.

A collar 34 is fixed to the shaft 3I in a position to abut the collar 30 to maintain the shaft 3| in 50 operative disposition. A handle 35 is fixed to the free end of the shaft 3l. A rider nut 35 having integral parallel ears 3l is disposed on the threaded portion 33 of the shaft 3l. A link 38 is pivotally connected by a pin 39 to the ears 31, a 55 portion of the link 36 being disposed within the slot 25 and the remainder thereof extending therefrom. The front section l I has a slot 40 which forms a continuation of the slot 25 when the front section II and central section I2 are contiguously disposed. The other end of the link 38 is pivotally connected within the slot 4!) by means of a pin 4I. Guide rods 42 have screw engagement with the central section I2, the free ends being disposed in wells 43 in the front section II.

The rear section I3 includes parallel superposed threaded wells 45 and 46. Into the well 45 is threaded the threaded portion of a shaft 41 and into the well 45 is threaded the threaded portion of a shaft 48, the shafts 41 and 48 extending forwardly from the rear section I3. The shaft 41 includes a plurality of spaced notches 43. The central section I2 includes, extending forwardly from the rear surface 5I thereof, parallel superposed wells 53 and 54. The free portion of the shaft 41 extends into the Well 53 and the free portion of the shaft 48 vextends into the well 54. A well 55 lextends from the upper surface of the central section I2 at .right angles to the well 53 and connects with the well '53. A bushing 56 is disposed within the well 55, the bushing 56 including a flange 51 at the upper end. A plunger 58 having a threaded upper end 59 and a plunger head 6D at the lower end extends through the bushing 5G. A .knob 6I threadedly engages the threaded upper end 59 of the plunger 58. A helical spring 62 maintains the plunger 58 normally in a position with the plunger head 66 extending into the well 53 and engaging one of the notches 49 of the shaft 41.

Operation It is apparent from the foregoing description, taken with the accompanying drawing, that rotation of the shaft 3I by means of the handle 35 moves the rider nut 36 and the link 38 to 'move the front section II relative to the central section I2, there being a closing or separating movement, depending upon the threading on the threaded portion 33 of the shaft 3| and lin the nut 36. The rear section I3 can be readily moved toward or away from the central section I2 by withdrawing the plunger 58 from engagement with the shaft 41 by outward movement of the knob 6I. It is possible, therefore, to adjust the rear section I3 relative to the central section I2 prior to moving the front section II in a stretching action.

With the rear section I3 adjusted relative -to the central section I2, the .shoe stretcher Il) is disposed in a shoe desired stretched. The `bottom surface of the shoe stretcher I0, and particularly the bottom surface I1 of the central section I2, substantially conforms to the contours of the inner sole of the shoe. The handle 35 and shaft 3| are rotated to move the front section II forwardly from the central section I2, the total amount of movement being determined by the amount of stretch required. As the front section II moves forwardly into stretching contact with the cap and vamp, the bottom surface of the central section I2 snugly engages the arch of the shoe, inasmuch as the force exerted in the stretching action extends substantially parallel with the guides 42. The stretching force is, therefore, received by the arch of the shoe through the central section I2, but there is no bending or breaking of the arch, inasmuch as the force is distributed over the full area thereof. The rear section I3 serves only as an anchorage for the central section I2, very little pressure being exerted through the rear section I3 against the rear portion of the upper kof the shoe. There is not the customary front-to-rear stretching which breaks the arch of a shoe and distorts the upper. Only that portion of the shoe which it is desired to stretch is actually stretched by the shoe stretcher I0, namely, the vamp.

It is apparent, therefore, that there has been provided a shoe stretcher which is adapted to fulfill all Vof .the objects and advantages sought therefor. It is to be understood that the Various elements of the shoe stretcher I0 are constructed of suitable material.

It .is further to be understood that the foregoing description and accompanying drawing have been given .by way of illustration and example, and not for purposes of limitation, the invention being limited only by the claim which follows.

What vis claimed is:

A shoe stretcher comprising a central section, elongated recesses extending thereinto from the rear end thereof, a vertically disposed aperture in said Acentral section opening into one of said recesses and leading from the top thereof, a rear section, a latch rod fixed to said rear section having transverse slots, a guide rod xed to said rear portion, said latch rod extending into said one of -Said recesses and said guide rod extending into the other recess, and a spring-urged plunger within the vertical aperture engaging a slot of the latch rod, whereby the position of the rear section may be adjusted relative to the central section.

FLOYD N. HALL. WlLLIAM.' GRAY. 

